Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDG19308’

ABSTRACT

A new  Dianthus  plant named ‘KLEDG19308’ particularly distinguished by single flowers with a light pink flower color with a purple center, medium incisions of the margin of the petal and a light green leaf color, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus sp.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDG19308’.

BACKGROUND OF VARIETY ‘KLEDG19308’

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus, botanically known as Dianthus sp. and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDG19308’. ‘KLEDG19308’ is a selection that resulted from an open pollination of the proprietary female Dianthus line ‘DSS-2013-0080’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male Dianthus line ‘DSS-2013-0078’.

In May of 2014, the proprietary female Dianthus line ‘DSS-2013-0080’ and the proprietary male Dianthus line ‘DSS-2013-00078’ were cross pollinated in Stuttgart, Germany and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in June of 2015 in Stuttgart, Germany, and named ‘KLEDG19308’. In September of 2015, ‘KLEDG19308’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings. ‘KLEDG19308’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY ‘KLEDG19308’

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Latina, Italy.

-   -   1. Single flowers with a light pink flower color with a purple         center;     -   2. Medium incisions of the margin of the petal; and     -   3. Light green leaf color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the overall plant habit of the variety ‘KLEDG19308’ grown in a pot. The photograph is of a 14-week-old plant in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouse conditions in March 2017.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY ‘KLEDG19308’

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDG19308’. Data was collected on eight-month-old plants potted and cultivated in Stuttgart, Germany in March of 2017. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.         -   Species.—Dianthus sp.         -   Common name.—Pot carnation. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The Dianthus ‘DSS-2013-0080’(unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The Dianthus ‘DSS-2013-0078’(unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Propagation type.—Vegetative stem cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—14 to 18 days.         -   Root description.—Young roots: RHS 161D. Mature roots: RHS             199C.         -   Rooting habit.—Lanceolate. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Upright.         -   Height.—15.0 cm to 18.0 cm.         -   Diameter or spread.—20.0 cm to 23.0 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—5.0 cm to 10.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.5 cm to 5.0 cm.         -   Number of internodes per branch/stem.—2 to 4.         -   Node length.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Node diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 146 C.         -   Branch/stem.—Solid. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Length.—2.0 cm to 5.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: Smooth.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface:             RHS 146B.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 147A.             Venation pattern: No venation. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single flower, bowl shaped.         -   Fragrance.—Present.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to Autumn.         -   Position of flowers relative to the foliage.—Moderately             above.         -   Number of flowers per spray.—3 to 6.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—14 to 16 days. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Length.—1.5 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Color.—RHS 147B.         -   Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage.—Absent. -   Corolla:     -   -   Quantity of petals and arrangement.—5.         -   Corolla height.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Petal length.—2.8 cm to 3.2 cm.         -   Petal width.—1.0 cm to 1.3 cm.         -   Petal shape.—Spoon shaped.         -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.         -   Petal base.—Acute.         -   Petal margin.—Serrated.         -   Depth of petal margin.—Medium.         -   Petal texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: Smooth.         -   Petal color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 69A and center RHS             59B. Lower surface: RHS 69C. Mature: Upper surface: RHS 69A             and center RHS 59B. Lower surface: RHS 69C.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Composed of 5             sepals. Shape: Campanulate. Calyx height: 1.8 cm to 2.2 cm.             Calyx diameter (at the apex): 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Sepal             texture: Upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Sepal color:             Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137D. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—1.0 to 2.0 cm (last internode), whole stem 10.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm to 0.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 147A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Not observed. Filament length:             Not observed. Filament color: Not observed. Anther length:             Not observed. Anther diameter: Not observed. Anther color:             Not observed. Pollen amount: None.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 2. Pistil length: Not             observed. Style length: 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm. Style color: RHS             155D. Stigma shape: Filamentous. Stigma color: RHS 85C.             Ovary size: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm. Ovary shape: Oval. Ovary             color: RHS 145C. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed sometimes observed. -   Disease and insect/pest resistance: No special observations were     made.

COMPARISON OF ‘KLEDG19308’ WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

When ‘KLEDG19308’ is compared to the female parental line ‘DSS-2013-0080’ and the male parental line ‘DSS-2013-0078’, the following differences are noted in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental and Commercial Line Trait or characteristic ‘KLEDG19308' Female parent Male Parent Flower color Light pink, Purple, dark star Light purple purple center Depth of Medium Very shallow Very shallow incisions of margin of petal

When ‘KLEDG19308’ is compared to the commercial line ‘KLEDG18305’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,019), the following differences are noted in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Trait or Commercial line: characteristic ‘KLEDG19308’ ‘KLEDG18305’ Flower type Single Single Flower color Light pink, purple center Pink with purple ring Leaf colour Light green Dark green 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDG19303’ as shown and described herein. 